Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. (Proverbs 4:23)

In Mark 9:23, Jesus said “…all things are possible to him that believeth.” In other words, whatever you believe is possible for you. If you believe you can loose, fail or die before your time, then it’s possible for you. If you believe you can’t fail, can’t loose, can’t die, then it’s possible for you!

Everything that has happened or not happened in your life is a direct result of what you believe or don’t believe. No wonder God said to keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. (Proverbs 4:23). What that means is that we should be careful what we believe. Why? Because that’s what the heart is meant for: believing.

Romans 10:10 says “…for with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” Thus we believe with our hearts, and with our mouths, we confess what we believe so that it comes to pass. So anything that gets into your heart, you will believe. And anything you believe, you will confess, and anything you confess will come to pass.

David said “I believed, therefore have I spoken…”. (Psalm 116:10). So what we say is a result of what we believe. Thus the issue is not so much about being careful of what we say. We need to be careful what we believe, because that is the basis of what we say and what subsequently happens in our lives.

I believe you can see how this all works. Thus it makes sense when I say that everything that has happened or not happened in your life is a result of what you believed. So if you want to change what is happening in your life, change what you believe. When you change what you believe, you’ll begin to speak differently and have different manifestations in your life.

“Right believing brings forth right living.” This is a statement I heard Joseph Prince make many times and I finally understand it.

Friend, change what you believe and change your life. God’s Word is always right, hence make sure you always believe what’s consistent with Him.

In this life one needs to be very careful not to do things because everyone is doing them. You need to look ahead and see whether taking a particular path is good for you or not. Don’t do a business simply because others are doing it. Don’t marry simply because everyone is marrying and that’s what society expects of you. The gate and the road that leads to death is wide and many people walk on it. So be very careful of things that everyone seems to be doing. Pause and ask yourself whether it’s good for you, and let the Holy Spirit lead you in the way you should go. He is the one who leads in the way of life and peace.

“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. (Matthew 7:13-14)

For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. (Romans 8:2)

One thing about us humans that has amazed and bothered me for a long time is our predisposition to make poor choices and do what is wrong, even when we know it is wrong. Upon meditating on Romans 8:2, the Holy Spirit made it clear to me what was going on.

In the above scripture, we see that there are two laws that are at work in any given man, at any given time: the law of sin and death, and the law of the Spirit of life. These work like gravity in our lives. The law of gravity applies to whoever, wherever – no exemptions. Everything that goes up must come down. The only reason why a plane can stay up in the air is because of a power it carries. If at anytime during flight, that power fails, the plane must come down because of the law of gravity.

Now the law of sin and death is a law that drives people to make poor choices and do what is wrong even when they know it is wrong. This can be seen nearly everywhere. For example, many people who drink alcohol know that it’s wrong and not good for their health, yet they still drink. Many people know that too much sugar is not good, and yet they still eat lots of sugary foods. Many people know that they need to exercise to stay fit, yet they don’t. Many believers know that they should pray regularly and read their bibles, yet they don’t. Every married man and woman, irrespective of religion knows that adultery is wrong, yet adultery remains prevalent in the world. HIV/AIDS is still spreading like wildfire because people are aware that sex outside marriage is wrong, yet they still do it. The pornography industry is booming because people view pornographic material on a regular basis, even though they know it’s wrong. The police will never be irrelevant in society because across the world, people are predisposed to drive cars without a license, over-speed, drive drunk, break into homes and steal, and do all manner of things which they know very well to be against the laws of the land. To this day, in our part of the world, we still need sanitary inspectors to come and tell us to clean up our own backyards!

All of these happenings confirm the reality of the law of sin and death at work in humanity. The law of sin and death is what compels people to sin, so that as a result, they experience death and destruction. Anybody living in any kind of sin is definitely not having fun, but is under bondage to the law of sin and death. As they continue to wallow in sin, their cup will eventually get full, and death will begin to manifest in their lives in diverse ways, until they themselves drop dead and loose their very soul! James 1:15 declares “…then desire (lust) when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.

But thanks be unto God that we don’t have to endure living in bondage to the law of sin and death. Another look at our opening scripture reveals that it is the law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus that sets us free from the law of sin and death. This is just like electronics – it’s either ON or OFF. So if you’re not under the influence of the law of the Spirit of Life, then you’re under the influence of the law of sin and death.

Just as the law of sin and death compels you to do wrong so that death comes into your life, the law of the Spirit of Life compels you to do what is right and good so that you experience fullness of life and peace. To be under the law of the Spirit of life is to be led by the Spirit of God, because He is the Spirit of life.

The law of the Spirit of life is not merely accessible to all. It is accessible to all in Christ Jesus. The verse says “For the law of the Spirit of life IN CHRIST JESUS hath made me free from the law of sin and death.” So it is only in Christ Jesus that the law of the spirit of life will have influence on your life- and there is a responsibility to this.

Earlier, I cited an example of an airplane overcoming the law of gravity because of a power which comes from its engines and wings. The wings give the plane the necessary shape to be able to fly, whereas the engines are responsible for propelling the plane. Notice that these are two aspects crucial to flight, and while the wings are permanent, the engine can be on or off. Similarly, having been born again, and filled with the spirit, we’re free from the law of sin and death (we have our wings), but for us to experience the law of the Spirit of life practically, we have to take the responsibility of abiding in Christ and letting His Word abide in us. So like the plane which has wings, but will not fly unless the engines are working, we too may be born again, but unless we abide in Christ and His Word abides in us, we’ll find the law of sin and death bringing us down every now and then. When a plane is in flight and it looses its engines, it the law of gravity kicks in to bring it down. Likewise, the law of sin and death doesn’t stop working just because you are set free from it by the law of the Spirit of life. The law of the spirit of life is in Christ, and unless you abide in Him, you can easily slip back into bondage of the law of sin and death.

How do you remain free from the law of sin and death? You do so by abiding in Christ Jesus. The way to abide in Him is to let His Word abide in you. (John 15:7). The Psalmist gives a very good insight into the effect of having the Word of Christ abiding in you. He says “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.” (Psalm 119:11). Thus letting us know that when the Word of Christ dwells in us, we will not walk in sin and experience death. But this is our own responsibility. Let’s take it seriously!

Beyond abiding in Christ, another thing we need not joke with is the leadership of the Holy Spirit in our lives. We have to make room for the Holy Spirit in our lives. Remember, the law of the SPIRIT OF LIFE sets free from the law of sin and death. True freedom from sin only exists by way of a very close relationship with the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is your best ally in this life. Do not neglect Him. Let Him lead you, because only He will lead you NOT into temptation, but deliver you from evil.

When you are free from the law of sin and death you can say with Paul that there’s therefore now no condemnation to those in Christ. This is because you’re free from the law of sin and death. Always confess your freedom from the law of sin and death: FOR THE LAW OF THE SPIRIT OF LIFE IN CHRIST JESUS HAS SET ME FREE FROM THE LAW OF SIN AND DEATH!

It is said that heaven helps those who help themselves. This is very untrue. God helps those who recognize their inability to help themselves and therefore come to Him. Don’t be conformed to this world. Think differently and get the right help from God’s throne of grace.

Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:16)

Apart from the generic aspects of love such as patience, kindness and so on, there are specific aspects that one needs to pay attention to.

Everyone has certain things that spell love to them. That is their love language, and if you don’t do those things that spell love to them, they’ll not feel loved. For instance, one woman perceives the love of her man when he spends time with her, another perceives the love of her man when he buys her gifts. One man perceives the love of his wife when she cooks him a good meal. Another does when she speaks to him respectfully. So in all these cases, no matter what other good things you do for them in the name of love, if you don’t “speak their love language”, they won’t feel loved.

God also has His love language. God perceives our love for Him when we keep His Word. And He promises to love us back and show Himself to us in ways that He won’t show to others who don’t keep His Word.

He that has my commandments, and keeps them, he it is that loves me: and he that loves me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. (John 14:21)

In this season of love, recognize that it doesn’t take much to show God or your partner how much you love them. Find out their love language and speak it, and you’ll be happy.

It’s very important how we respond to rebukes and chastisement. When God confronts you on a matter, don’t see it as condemnation. Rather see it as God’s mercy. He wants you to walk in victory. The bible says that He holds victory in store for the upright. (Proverbs 2:7)

Next time you’re in church and your pastor preaches and zeroes in on some sin you’re involved in, don’t start wondering if someone told your matter to him. No one has time for that. It’s the Holy Spirit convicting you because of God’s mercy and love. It may not be pleasant at first, but take it in good faith and amend your ways. You’ll be glad you did, and you’ll surely be blessed.

And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons: “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son.” (Hebrews 12:5-6 NIV)

Pastors and church leaders go through so much as they do their work. As a matter of fact, Paul refers to ministry work as striving which connotes warfare. We can be of help to them as we remember them in prayer.

We often don’t remember our pastors in prayer, and so they fall into temptation, and collapse under various attacks and they die suddenly, leaving us shocked and perplexed. But we need to remember that ministers are also human and also suffer and can also die, so remember them when you pray – not once a while but every time you pray.

Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ’s sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me; (Romans 15:30)